Intelligence · Enforcement
FTC settlement limits HoYoverse loot-box sales to young teens
The federal settlement included a $20 million payment and restrictions concerning loot-box sales to under-16s without parental consent.
The FTC’s action against HoYoverse included a $20 million payment and restrictions on selling loot boxes to children under 16 without parental consent. The agency also alleged misleading odds and costs in a multi-tier virtual-currency system.
The context
The settlement is not a sweepstakes case, but it is a significant consumer-protection reference for any product that combines chance, virtual currency, youth audiences, and unclear pricing. The order and complaint provide the governing detail.
What we are watching
We are watching for the final court order and for how the FTC applies the same consumer-protection principles in other digital-game settings.